The fishing trips are open to all anglers, both the novices and also the more serious fisherman, and can range from half to full day or longer overnight trips for those keener anglers.

Trolling with lures is the method generally used whilst fishing on the lake. All the necessary equipment for nile perch trolling on the lake is provided, but if anglers wish to bring and use their own tackle, that is fine.

Getting There - Murchison Falls

BY ROAD

The Paraa area of Murchison Falls National Park is around 5 hours drive from Kampala via Masindi. You can also access the park from Western Uganda driving north from Kibale/Kasese via Hoima and Bulisa. Driving times for this route vary depending on the condition of the roads, allow a good part of the day if coming from the Kibale area.

Fishing at Murchison Falls National Park

Fishing at Murchison requires expert assistance, to ensure both client safety in this adventurous destination, and the best opportunity for successful fishing. Some of you may be experienced enough to challenge the Nile with just hiring a boat and skipper but for most it is recommended to have an experienced fishing guide along to ensure the smooth running of the trip (especially if it is a first excursion to the falls). A choice of guides is available (subject to availability) and we recommend one guide per three anglers.

Getting there

Murchison Falls National Park is approximately 6 hours drive north west from Entebbe, via Kampala with the majority of the roads before reaching the park being tarred. Within the park there are murrum roads. Our fully inclusive trips include private transport with a driver in 4 x 4 vehicles which are comfortable and spacious, including room for fishing equipment! Alternatively scheduled or charter flights can be used between Entebbe and Murchison Falls National Park, these are at an additional cost which is provided upon request. See map of Murchison Falls

Traditional Fishing Season

The fishing at Murchison varies from year to year as to which are the most successful fishing months, but generally it is accepted that the drier months of the year produce better fishing results – December to March and June to October. We catch all year round its just that in these months there is less chance of rain. Thunderstorms occur randomly throughout the year .The beginning of the April/May rainy season is to be avoided, please enquire about current situation before booking.

Fishing area and conditions

Sport Fishing at Murchison Falls National Park is generally conducted in the area at the base of the falls. The fishing is either from the rocks on the bank of the river or slightly lower down stream in the pools from a boat. Wild Frontiers Fishing Safaris access all fishing spots by boat from our launching point at Paraa.

The temperatures at Murchison are high (sometimes over 40 degrees C) – especially at mid day and anglers should be equipped with sun protection including sun tan lotion, hats and long sleeved shirts. Tsetse flies also abound at certain times and we recommend long trousers as well as insect repellant.

Methods of Fishing / Equipment

Fish caught on live bait / casting lures include Nile perch and various species of cat fish. There are also a large variety of smaller species, (used as live bait), obtained by spinning including tiger fish. We recommend a rod between 11feet (3 metres) and 8 feet (2.4 metres) together with a fixed spool or multiplier reel. For the smaller species a 7’ spinning rod with 5 kg (10 lb) line is adequate.

Reels – For Nile perch and catfish any reel fixed spool or multiplier with 30-35 lb line(17kg) will do. It depends on personal preference and skill with a multiplier. For tiger fish and smaller species any reel you can comfortably cast small spinners is suitable.

What to pack

There are no shops in the National Park – all necessary supplies such as sun tan lotion, medications, cigarettes, spare batteries for electronic equipment and cameras, and mosquito spray must be brought with you. We suggest you bring as much sun protection as possible – hats, sunglasses, creams as it can be very hot. Hiking/safari boots are best for foot wear, especially for shore fishing from the steep, rough rocks. Lightweight and light coloured clothes for fishing are best as they are cooler and the tetse flies are less attracted to them. Long sleeves and long trousers are best, but avoid blue/black dark colours where ever possible as these colours actually attract the tetses! A light weight rain jacket and a sweater for the evenings is also recommended.

Optional Additional Excursions

Excursions for game drives, Nile river cruises and chimpanzee trekking can be arranged in conjunction with the fishing. These excursions at Murchison Falls National Park are not included in the pricing quoted below, but we would be happy to advise you, should you be interested in further information. Should you wish to combine your fishing with visiting other areas of Uganda eg Mountain Gorilla viewing then we can also assist you with arranging this sector of your safari as an additional service.

Prices – Day Trips (Half Day also available)

Included: Use of boat on the Nile with skipper/fishing guide services, fuel, lunch, drinking water, and use of fishing equipment with USD100- deposit fee per rod paid before departure (this is refunded less any breakages / damaged equipment).

Excluded: National Park Entry Fees of USD40- per day, National Park Fishing Fees of USD40- to USD50- per day, (depending on the number of days fishing) , which are payable directly to Uganda Wildlife Authority.

International Prices Full Day Fishing Trip on NILE RIVER MFNP

Prices effective from January to – December 2014

No. of Guests / Boat

Price per person

1 guest in 1 boat

USD 535

2 guests in 1 boat

USD 295

3 guests in 1 boat

USD 215

Whilst is it possible to fish 3 persons on our boats, our recommendation is for 2 persons only for “serious” fishermen and we can accommodate more guests or larger boats by special arrangement/quotation. Special Rates for East African Residents please Contact us

Prices – Multiple Day Packages

Included:

Included: Airport transfers and return transport in 4 x 4 vehicle with driver/guide from Entebbe to MFNP, accommodation (Paraa Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge), meals, boat use on the Nile river, fishing guide services, national park entry fees and use of fishing equipment with USD100- deposit fee per rod paid before departure (this is refunded less any breakages / damaged equipment).

Excluded: Drinks, Tips and other items of a personal nature and National Park Fishing Fees of USD40- to USD50- per day (depending on the number of days fishing) which are payable directly to Uganda Wildlife Authority and fishing equipment hire as detailed below.

Multiple day Fishing Safaris on The Nile River Prices are per person, effective from January to – December 2014

Number of Nights / Days in Murchison Falls National Park

No. of Guests

2N / 3D

3N / 4D

4N / 5D

5N / 6D

6N / 7D

1 guest in 1 boat

USD 3627

USD 4347

USD 5138

USD 6205

USD 7030

2 guests in 1 boat

USD 2175

USD 2710

USD 3278

USD 3985

USD 4570

3 guests in 1 boat

USD 1867

USD 2420

USD 2970

USD 3641

USD 4241

4 guests in 2 boats

USD 1580

USD 2083

USD 2583

USD 3162

USD 3700

5 guests in 2 boats

USD 1410

USD 1880

USD 2350

USD 2882

USD 3382

6 guests in 2 boats

USD 1385

USD 1875

USD 2360

USD 2890

USD 3390

Whilst is it possible to fish 3 persons on our boats, our recommendation is for 2 persons only for “serious” fishermen and we can accommodate up to three boats ie 6 persons maximum. Larger groups are by special arrangement/quotation. Contact us

Single supplement

USD160

USD240

USD360

USD400

USD480

Accommodation

There are several facilities available for accommodation in the park – which one we utilise will depend upon budget and requirements. Prices quoted are based on utilising Paraa Lodge or Nile Safari Lodge. We are also able to offer accommodation at Murchison River Lodge which is more mid range and basic accommodation at Red Chilli Rest Camp for client groups that prefer to camp (fit experienced anglers only) a mobile camp, which we can erect at the camp site at the “top of the falls” area above Murchison Falls .

Due to the remoteness of the area power is usually by generator in the evenings and early mornings only at the lodges/camps.

Drinks

Drinks are cooled by gas run fridge/freezers at most of the lodges/camps and at times the hot weather affects this process. Cooler boxes are used on the boats to keep drinks as cool as possible through the day. Bottled water is available for drinking and a variety of other drinks are available for sale at the lodge/camps, however If you have specific requests we suggest you notify us in advance so we can do our best to accommodate you. Whilst they try their best to accommodate guests NOT all drinks available in other parts of the world are available here, there fore if you have strong preference eg branded spirits, we also suggest you bring your own.

Fishing Equipment

Due to challenges of keeping up with breakages and supply of new equipment to Uganda, a limited amount of basic equipment (more suited to first time visitors) is included in the above prices. We strongly recommend that if it all possible anglers bring their own equipment, especially more seasoned anglers who know their fishing.

Lost / Damaged Fishing Equipment

For both the day trips and overnight fishing safaris we operate our fishing equipment used on the basis that if any of our equipment that is used and is lost, damaged or not returned to us at the end of the fishing period it needs to be paid for at our ruling rates.

It is in Jinja, a small colonial town in Uganda that rafting trips can be taken. Rafting the river Nile in Uganda has become a huge tourist attraction and Jinja is often quoted to be the ‘adventure capital of East Africa’, white water enthusiasts have been rafting here for over 10 years. From the apprehensive who have never been on a river before to the seasoned adventurer, the Victorian source of the Nile in Uganda has something for everyone. The Nile is the classic pool‐drop river with deep, calm pools interspersed between powerful and exciting rapids and multitudes of different channels. At no point is the Nile constrained to one channel. The multiple of rapids between the beautiful mid‐river islands allows the expert guides to chose milder options for those not willing to subject themselves to certain dunking in the river.

The white water rafting is done in paddle‐rafts, each person joins as a member of a team and a professional guide captains the team. Paddlers are instructed comprehensively on how best to enjoy themselves on the water and on all aspects of safety including the use of safety kayaks which accompany every raft trip on the water. The highly trained safety kayakers are world class paddlers who adeptly pilot their kayaks through the rapid ahead of the raft. When the rafts flip upside down or people are washed overboard they are nearby to provide assistance in getting people back to their boats.

The trip on the water begins slowly and the first few kilometers give the raft guides an opportunity to train their crews fully on all aspects of Nile rafting. The river becomes much more adventures at Bujagali Falls and one major rapid follows swiftly after another for most of the morning. Once the rafts enter Wild waters Reserve (protects the unique flora and fauna of the mid‐stream islands of the Nile), there is more time between the rough water but the rapids become larger and more spectacular. At Itanda (The Bad Place) the Nile is too powerful for the rafts and so the rafts are taken around the top by land.

The grading of the rapids rafted on this stretch of the Nile range from 1 – 5. At each of the larger (higher graded) rapids you are given the option of whether you want to go the hard way (through the middle) or the easy way (around the edge). The choice is voted on, however, it might not always turn out the way you expected because you (everyone in the raft) if do not paddle in the right direction you may not take the route you wanted.

The family rafting trip is a wonderful river journey for the whole family. Instead of choosing the biggest and wildest rapids, these rafts instead drift swiftly between the beautiful forested islands, bounce down smaller rapids and explore the many different channels of the river.

The night is spent on the ‘Hairy Lemon’ a beautiful secluded island right on Nile. The next morning the adults have a chance to river surf at ‘Nile Special’ the infamous surf wave found near to the Hairy Lemon. The light weight boogie boards will allow provide an incredible thrill on the waves of the Nile.

Challenger Tours And Travel Limited was founded in 2010 by a professional entrepreneur Mr Stephens Hunter with the intention of improving the quality of tour operations in Uganda and the Great Lakes region of East Africa. The company began with meager resources, but has grown in leaps and bounds to see the company join the ranks of East Africa’s leading tour companies and become one of the leading tour companies in Uganda.

VISION

Our vision is the provision of quality services to our clients conserving the rich flora and fauna so abundantly for the future generation

MISSION

Our mission is to satisfy each Client or group in an individual way, by offering them not just a pre-set package off the shelf but rather unique adventure and safari activities in our region.

COMPANY VALUES

Care, professionalism and dedication are some of the core values that underpin the business approach of Challenger Tours And Travel .C.T.T has established itself as a strong and reliable company that guarantees quality, consistency and competitive prices. Other core values of the company are innovation, flexibility, quality customer service, community benefit and accessibility. It’s for this reason, that many satisfied customers have named us “the best tour and travel company in Uganda

SALES & MARKETING

C.T.T works closely with the Ugandan Government, the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the in order to guarantee quality service, flexibility and consistency. In addition, the company is at the forefront of marketing Uganda and strives to expand its international collaborations.

STAFF

Challenger Tours And Travel Limited employs a staff of ten competent office workers, guides and drivers. Many different languages are spoken by the C.T.T team, including English, Dutch, French, Swahili and several other local languages.

Being aware of the crucial role a safari guide plays in our client’s holiday, Challenger Tours And Travel makes high demands on her employees. Our six highly experienced full time safari guides have been working for C.T.T for many years. Many were formerly employed as Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers in the national parks. They therefore have an extensive knowledge of flora and fauna. The guides attend regular courses with USAGA (Uganda Safari Guides Association) and are members of the Uganda Bird Guides Club. Most safari guides have also participated in training courses and projects in Kenya, Tanzania . In addition, Challenger Tours and Travel employs German, Spanish and Japanese-speaking guides. We can arrange translators in any language. Contact Challenger Tours And Travel to arrange a local language guide.

VEHICLES

The company owns 3 Land Rovers and 3 Minibuses. All vehicles are 4WD, are well maintained and provide a pop up roof for game viewing. For clients’ convenience, we try to limit the number of people in one vehicle to 5-8 persons. This means everybody can enjoy having a window seat and luggage can be stored comfortably.

The challenging condition of the roads means that safari vehicles are serviced by C.T.T company mechanics after every trip.

SERVICES

Cultural tours in Uganda

Uganda features four major traditional kingdoms: Buganda, Toro, Bunyoro and Busoga. Each centuries-old kingdom is rich in history and provides huge scope for developing cultural tourism in Uganda, one of Challenger Tours And Travel aims.

Adventure tours in Uganda

Challenger Tours And Travel offers a wide range of adrenaline-pumping adventures, from gorilla trekking to mountaineering expeditions on the Rwenzori Mountains, hiking on Mount Elgon, grade 5 white water rafting on the River Nile, bungee jumping, horse riding, quad biking and more!

Recreation holidays in Uganda

For more relaxing excursions and activities, why not discover Bulago Islands’ sandy beaches, relax on the shores of Lake Bunyonyi or enjoy the peace and beauty of the Source of the Nile in Jinja?

Special interest journeys in Uganda

Besides the classical safaris, Challenger Tours And Travel offers theme packages and special interest tours. Golf tours, honeymoon packages, tribal tours and homesteads are just a few of the tours we can organise for you.

Other services

We currently offer a comprehensive range of complementary services to support the safari customer, ranging from airport transfers and hotel bookings to the organization of conferences and exhibitions.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Challenger Tours And Travel is highly conscious of the need to protect the natural environment and valuable cultural heritage. We have therefore initiated a number of projects, to maximize the benefits tourism can bring to local communities. One of these projects is the cooperation with a local family in Nshenyi Village, where guests can learn more about the culture of the different tribes and interact with the local people. A visit will support community based initiatives, varying from the construction of schools to the supply of clean drinking water and the making of traditional handicrafts.

Challenger tour and travel Limited has multiple scenecaries to take you through in uganda.

Below are some of the sites to visit.

MGAHINGA GORILLA PARK

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park protects Uganda’s portion of the Virunga Conservation Area. This volcanic region spreads through Uganda, Rwanda and the D.R.C. and is home to over 300 mountain gorillas. With spectacular views, a wealth of primates and some serious hiking, Mgahinga is a great alternative to Bwindi if you are considering a gorilla safari tour.

SEMULIKI VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

The Semuliki Valley lies in western-most Uganda at the base of the Albertine Rift and forms part of the great Ituri Forest that stretches into Central Africa – perhaps the densest jungle in East Africa. Comprised of the Semuliki Wildlife Reserve and Semuliki National Park, it offers beautiful and unspoilt scenery, hot springs and fantastic bird watching; the only park in Uganda composed primarily of tropical lowland forest. The Semuliki Valley is divided into two sectors by the northern Rwenzori foothills. To the northeast as far as Lake Albert is the Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. To the west lies the Semuliki National Park; its rich lowland jungle extending into the D.R.C.

The Central African rainforest is host to several species of bird, plant and mammal found no where else in Uganda, such as the pygmy antelope.

The Sempaya Hot Springs are two mineral-rich hot springs that send jets of boiling water (130oC) up to two meters high and are well worth a visit – see an egg boiled in the water in less than 10 minutes. Incidentally, the springs are a source of salt for many animals and attract large numbers of shorebirds.

RWENZORI MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON

The Rwenzori Mountains National Park is a World Heritage Site of outstanding beauty. Here the magnificent ‘Mountains of the Moon' rise from tropical rainforest into glacial peaks over 5000mhigh.

With near permanent mists enveloping the highest peaks and bizarre vegetation dotting its slopes, Rwenzori offers superb trekking and incredible scenery. Many climbers consider this to be the most challenging mountaineering in Africa.

RWENZORI NATIONAL PARK HIKING TOURS

The Rwenzoris are Africa’s tallest mountain range and lie on the Uganda – D.R.C. border. They are thought to be the legendary ‘Mountains of the Moon’ described by Ptolemy and are beaten in altitude by only the free standing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.

Lake Mburo National park is located in the southern part of Uganda in the present Kiruhura district. The park covers an area of 260 sq km.It was named after the famous Lake Mburo which is found inside the park. The park harbours several fauna species which cannot easily be found elsewhere in Uganda. These include Zebras, common duikers, Impala, Bohor reedbuck, Buffaloes, and birds. Lake Mburo is recorded as the best place in the country where you can see the gigantic eland antelope, as well as zebra, topi, impala, and several acacia-associated birds. The sitatunga antelope is confined to swamp interiors and the Klipspringer is occasionally observed in rocky areas. Only two diurnal primates occur at Lake Mburo; the Vervet monkey and olive baboon.

QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

Queen Elizabeth National Park is the gem in Uganda’s crown. The most popular and accessible of the Ugandan savannah reserves, it boasts one of the most diverse eco-systems in Africa.

Savannah, rainforest, wetlands and crater lakes are home to 95 species of mammal (the highest in any Ugandan park) and 610 bird species (perhaps the highest of any African reserve).

MURCHISON FALLS NATIONAL PARK

Murchison Falls Conservation Area is the largest protected area in Uganda and home to the awesome Murchison Falls. Here the longest river in the world is forced through a narrow cleft and into a 43m drop. A low lying and hot park with rugged savannah and dense forest that hosts 76 species of mammal, an incredible 460 bird species and the largest chimpanzee population in East Africa

MOUNT ELGON NATIONAL PARK

Mount Elgon is the oldest and largest free standing volcano in East Africa, the eighth highest mountain in Africa and is protected by two national parks. It sits on the Uganda - Kenya border, 4321m tall, offering spectacular scenery and great hiking at a variety of levels.

Its 3500 km2 host a variety of altitudinal plants from mountain forest to strange giant lobelia, 300 species of bird, hot springs, caves and beautiful waterfalls. MOUNT ELGON HIKING TOUR Mt. Elgon is accessible from both Uganda and Kenya, although its highest peak, Wagagai (4,321m), lies within Ugandan territory. Despite the altitude, this is not an incredibly difficult climb and does not require specialist mountaineering equipment.

There are five major peaks in the park: Wagagai (4,321m) (4,302m) (4,222m) (4,211m) (4,161m)